Join us for International Peace Day!

Go out into the world in peace; Have courage;
Question all things; Hold onto what is good;
Return to no one evil for evil; Strengthen the faint-hearted;
Support the weak; Help the suffering; Honor all beings.

• Music by Bill McGrath and a message of peace

• Presentation by Bill Habedank: How do we create a world of peace?

• Words of peace by Rev. Ted Tollefson: The Ecology of Peace-making and a Prayer for Peace

• Conversations

What is democracy? How does it work, can it work, and should it work?

History has examples, good and bad. Plato, Rosseau, Hobbes, Jefferson, Locke, Mills, Marx, Dewey. Relevance to today and the future. Trump and authoritarianism.

Two of our members will share their beliefs and their spiritual/religious journeys.

Bring your faith, your doubts, and your questions. If you have answers, bring those too! This talk is intended to empower 2 or 3 of our members to do a "This I Believe" talk next month.

Don't miss this memorable program!

Two veteran Peace-Makers Bill McGrath and Bill Habedank share their reflections on our persistent war culture and the prospects for Peace.

Bill H's topic is "War Makes Peace" and Bill McG's is "Seeking Peace in a Time of War". Bill McGrath will also sing and few peace songs.
The discussion will follow.
Outdoor service.

Image by Summer Park Studio

Three friends from the Red Wing AA community share news of their journeys from addiction to recovery. Join us for a thoughtful presentation and discussion.

Phil Martin has recently retired to Red Wing where he teaches mindfulness meditation.

After his talk there will be time for your questions and a chance to practice mindfulness.

Join us on Zoom at 10am

You should be able to enter without the password above. Just keep hitting the blue button.

• Do Not “Sign In”
  just hit Launch Meeting and then Join Meeting.

• You’ll want computer audio

• and to allow Zoom to use your computer video camera.

• Need some more info/help?

Join us with Gary Stone to discuss such topics as:

• Jeopardy

• QAnon

• faces on Mars

• apophenia

• truth, lies, and meaning

• We Good They Bad - We Bad They Good

• riots

• Trump

• stories

• moral language

• Gnosticism

• And other Epistemological questions.

Join Us on Zoom at 10am

• You should be able to enter without the password above. Just keep hitting the blue button.

• DON’T "Sign in" - just hit "Launch Meeting" and then "Join Meeting.”

• You’ll want “computer audio”

• and to “allow Zoom to use your computer video camera.”

• Need some more info/help?

Join us for our 3rd live meeting in 3 months!

Gary Stone speaking on "Democracy, Community, and Moral Language". What can they do and what is beyond their capacity? Gary will discuss the limits of TRUTH, truth, and meaning and how to live within the limits.

We 'll meet outside in the garden and keep 6 feet apart.
Please wear a mask and be kind to your neighbors!
If you have lawn chairs, please bring them. 

The 18th Annual Peacestock will now be held virtually!

Peacestock is a mixture of speakers, activists, and musicians, featuring timely topics and speakers who are well respected on those topics. The theme of the event is “Where’s the Truth?” and speakers include Norman Solomon and Andrew J. Bacevich.

Sponsored by Veterans for Peace Chapters 115 & 27

If you plan to attend virtually via Zoom, please pre-register on the website to gain entry and follow on Facebook for the latest updates! While this event will be free for all to attend this year, we appreciate donations to keep it up and running for next year and into the future.

hosted by Donn Leaf.

Who or what is "God?”
Is God necessary for a good life?
Join us for a lively discussion!

Brief talks on our UU faith by leading ministers and lay-leaders hosted by Peter Jacobs.

Join us for a lively discussion! Healthy refreshments to follow.

hosted by  Donn Leaf. 

Who or what is "God"?   Is God  necessary for a good life? 
Join us for a lively discussion!

with Mitchell J. Rigelman of
River City Greens.

Mitchell Rigelman is an aquatic biologist and urban farmer of Lake City Minnesota. River City Greens strives to be sustainable, and innovative. Growing on square feet, not acres.

They specialize in cultivating culinary micro-greens and herbs by utilizing an ancient growing technique called Aquaponics. Through this balanced ecosystem, fish provide the nutrients needed to consume waste in the form of ammonia, and in turn release nitrate nitrogen which fertilizes the plants.

This nutrient rich water is absorbed by plants which filters returning water to the fish, and the cycle continues. Through this technique, River City Greens is saving 90% more water than traditional farming methods and producing the most natural products.

Sample the wares!

Sample all available flavors of "micro-greens"
with crackers and cream-cheese after the program!

Over 2600 years in India, a former prince named Gautama woke up and became “the Buddha” (the Enlightened One)
What does it mean to “wake up?”
What spiritual gifts can we glean from the experience of “Old Buddha?”

Meditation instruction included at no extra cost!

Retired physics professor John Hitchcock will introduce us to "Quantum Physics.”
There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.

with Sami Rasouli a leading Islamic peace-maker from Iraq and former owner of Sinbad's Restaurant in Minneapolis. News of his efforts to foster peace and recovery in Iraq.

with Peter Jacobs & Ted Tollefson

It's been a long and winding road that brought us where we are today. We'll share high-lights and wrong turns our journeys as well as the beliefs, mentors and accidents that guided us. Time for questions and brief sharing of our own origins too.

Iced tea is served at 11 am.

Danny Sjursen is a U.S. Army Major, recently retired from active duty. He graduated from West Point and served tours with reconnaissance units in both Iraq and Afghanistan as a leader of troops.

He is the author of a book GHOSTRIDERS OF BAGHDAD: SOLDIERS, CIVILIANS, AND THE MYTH OF THE SURGE; a critical analysis of the Iraq War.

He is frequently interviewed and is a prolific writer for Truthdig, The Nation, and others on matters pertaining to his military service and on American foreign policy issues. Danny will speak on misguided U.S. foreign policy as it pertains to his military service.

He has gained insights that the average American has no access to and his talk will be very interesting.

My theme for Sunday about the limitations of understanding truth and fact itself. What can we know and how?

What about the modern world makes the old ideas of truth and fact limiting? How does modern science, art, biology, poetry, theater, and scholarship constrain our ability to know ourselves and the world? How does our response to the very real loss of certainties lead to astrology, cults, tribes, polarization, “alternative facts,” and ennui? Are truth and meaning in life compatible?

Your homework: bring along your working definition of “truth.”

Guest speaker Gary Stone

Steve Thomford of Prairie Restoration office in Randolph, MN will speak to us about the benefits for all creatures of replacing grass lawns with prairie flowers and long-stem grasses.

Gear up for the spring planting season!

We begin a new series this Sunday which focuses on the spiritual treasures of both western and eastern traditions. 

Chris Burawa is a Zen priest, poet and translator who lives in Red Wing, MN.

Steve Thomforde of Prairie Restoration in Randolph, MN will speak to us about the benefits for all creatures of replacing grass lawns with prairie flowers and long-stem grasses.

Gear up for the spring planting season!

Timely reflections on our treatment of animals by the Minnesota state director of the Humane Society, Peter Jacobs.

This program is a direct expression of our decision last spring to affirm the “inherent worth and dignity of all beings”.

How can we translate this ideal into practice?

Many Asian communities celebrate “Buddha’s Awakening Day”

Join us and listen to Chris Burawa, long-time Buddhist practitioner and priest share his reflections on Buddha’s Way and Buddha’s Awakening.

The majority of Americans have pets and we spend more money than ever on our companion animals. Our appreciation for wildlife is surging, and our concern for the welfare of animals raised for food is higher than ever.  

At the same time, there are inherent cruelties in the ways we relate to millions of animals- in puppy mills, factory farms, and in the wild. 
Hope is abundant though, as we are experiencing a revolution in the way we view and treat animals, thanks to expanding awareness among consumers, legislators, voters, and business.  

Join and with Christine Coughlin, Minnesota State Director, The Humane Society of the United States, to hear about the Humane Society of the United States’ campaigns and work in Minnesota and how you can help build a truly humane society here at home.

About Christine

Christine Coughlin is the Minnesota State Director for The Humane Society of the United States. 

Born and raised in Minnesota, she has been active in the field of animal protection since 2002, with a focus on grassroots legislative campaigns and electoral advocacy. 

Christine has served on animal welfare policy task forces for the City of Minneapolis, initiated the biannual publication of MN’s Humane Scorecard, and founded Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection, serving as executive director until 2015, when she joined The Humane Society of the United States.

She is the recipient of the 2017 Kenny Feldman Animal Advocate Award.